It's not just Tory councils that victimise and attack the homeless, however. I joined the Labour Party to support Jeremy Corbyn. I attended one ward meeting - and doubt I'll be attending another.

The local Labour council cabinet member, in her report to the meeting, spent 20 minutes detailing how the council was tackling the "scourge" of beggars in the local community.

She said many homeless people are "professional beggars" preying on people's goodwill. She characterised them as people that wake up in a house, put on dirty clothes and make thousands of pounds.

This same Labour councillor is one of the biggest proponents of the 'monster block' gentrification scheme (see page 4), sitting on the council's planning committee.

So it's clear: the Blairites within Labour continue to act the same as the Tories. Cosying up to private developers and using the police to fine and harass homeless people instead of building council houses and funding shelters and much-needed services.

These councillors are up for election again this year, imposed on us without any Haringey-style organised challenge to get rid of them.

A serious fightback to kick out all the Blairites, especially among the MPs and councillors, is needed to transform the Labour Party into one that fights on the side of workers, young people and those most let down by society.

We set up Save Mental Health Services in Salford, had great support from a service users' group, got a Coronation Street star publicly in support, held lobbies, and a march from Eccles to the hospital.

Unfortunately for this man and countless others, the closure still happened.

We shouldn't feel guilty. We fought hard and gave it our best shot.

Now the tide is turning and lately we've been able to celebrate the victories over NHS cuts in Leicester and Mansfield.

We have hardened activists around us who have learnt a lot from the mental health campaign.